Mission Kakatiya-like clean-up for City lakes

​Hyderabad: Mission Kakatiya-like programme is being taken up in the state capital and its outskirts by GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) and HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) with a budget of nearly Rs 480 crore.

Over 40 water-bodies, including a few noted ones, would be beautified to give a big makeover as part of this drive. Mir Alam tank, Saroornagar lake, Foxsagar lake (or Jeedimetla Cheruvu), Jalpally tank, Rampally Chervu and Kamuni Cheruvu-Shamshabad are in the list prepared by authorities.

While Mission Kakatiya, the flagship project of the government is being implemented across the state for the last three years barring the state capital region, this is the first time that a similar drive is being undertaken in Hyderabad and city outskirts.

However, lakes beautification in Hyderabad and HMDA limits is a major challenge because of continuous sewage flow into the lakes making them heavily polluted emanating foul odour all the time. And designs are being prepared in such a way that this problem is addressed in the drive. It may be noted that sewage flow problem is very rare in water bodies in districts and rural areas.

According to GHMC officials, they would take steps to ensure sewage flow into the water body is completely stopped and for this, alternative lines would be laid so that only rain and fresh water can go into the lakes in future.

Once this sewage flow is stopped, the next focus would be on removal of water hyacinth, desilting, strength of existing bund and draining out water wherever possible. This would be followed by beautification steps like fencing the entire area, construction of walking tracks, children play area and other amenities.

As far as beautification drive in GHMC is concerned, the irrigation department is funding the total costs predicted over Rs 200 crore. For the drive in HMDA, the metropolitan body has been told to take it up with its own budget.